Katie revealed to the publication: ‘Mark and I had been talking about separating for some time – we have been drifting for a while. He works away a lot and that’s been hard. A lot of people think it’s the age difference but we don’t see that as a factor.’

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She went on to explain that she met Scott ‘by accident’ whilst on a night out and ‘clicked’ with him.

Katie denied having an affair behind Mark’s back, and said she told her husband about Scott after their first meeting.

Mark shares a child with Katie (Picture: Joe Maher/WireImage)

She explained: ‘It wasn’t intentional, it just happened…But Mark always knew – straight from the off I was honest. He knew I was going out and who I was seeing.

‘He was incredibly understanding. If it was anybody else it wouldn’t matter, but because Mark’s in the limelight people have been gossiping.’

Katie insists that she and Mark ‘remain good friends’ and the TV star is ‘happy’ that she’s met someone, adding she’s ‘sick of all the speculation’ and her alleged affair and wants people to be able to ‘get on with our lives.’

‘When will women realise that intelligence is far sexier than a good set of pecs? Give me @MarkLabbett over the Love Island muppets any day!’ one fan wrote on Twitter, after they discovered he was newly single.

‘I have just found out that @MarkLabbett is 53!!!’ another shocked fan wrote, referencing The Beast’s youthful looks. ‘What the hell!! Best looking 53 year old I’ve ever seen!! I thought he was about 27 #thechase #mindblown.’

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